International Letters of Natural Sciences Vol. 58

Abstract: In this study, the allelopathic potential of dehulled rice, rice, and hulls of rice on germination of weeds was evaluated in laboratory. Phenolic acids in growth media of these plants were also identified and quantified using HPLC. Identified allelochemicals were reversely tested for phytotoxic effects on germination and seedling growth of barnyardgrass, lettuce, radish and rice. The results showed that the inhibitory effects of dehulled rice were stronger than those of hulls and rice. Dehulled rice caused 66.7% and 50.6% reduction in radish root length and lettuce shoot height, respectively. Dehulled rice showed strong inhibitory effects on root length of lettuce and shoot height of radish while hulls and rice exhibited stimulation. Regarding phenolic identification, vanillin and vanillic acid were detected as allelochemicals in root exudates of rice and tested plants. The results revealed that most of the vanillin and vanillic acid treatments showed high inhibitory effects on germination rates and seedling growth of lettuce and radish, high stimulatory activity on root elongation of rice. Vanillic acid (100 ppm and 200 ppm), vanillin (100 ppm) and their mixture (200 ppm) completely inhibited survival of lettuce. The findings indicate the allelopathic potential of dehulled rice which can be used for identification of more phytotoxins to produce bioherbicides in agricultural practices.

Abstract: The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of nonylphenol in the pro-oxidant/ antioxidant system in ovary of the cichlid fish Etroplus maculatus. Fishes were exposed at two sublethal concentrations (one-fifth and one-tenth of LC₅₀) of nonylphenol for 24, 72 and 96 h maintaining control groups. The oxidative stress indices as the activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase along with the levels of hydrogen peroxide generation and lipid peroxidation were monitored in concentration-and time-dependent manner. Activity of superoxide dismutase significantly (P<0.05) increased at both concentrations in time-dependent manner. Meanwhile the activities of catalase and glutathione reductase significantly (P<0.05) decreased after 72 and 96 h of nonylphenol treatment. The levels of hydrogen peroxide generation and lipid peroxidation increased in all treatment groups when compared to controls. The present results demonstrated that the induction of oxidative stress in ovary of fish by the generation of lipid peroxidation could be due to the exposure of environmental contaminant, nonylphenol. Therefore, the observed oxidative stress in ovary can be indicated as a mechanism of toxicity in the fish exposed to nonylphenol.

Abstract: The geological and structural evolution assessment of the Basement Complex rocks in Iwaraja area, southwestern Nigeria showed that the basement rocks comprise quartzites and quartz-schists of the Effon Psammite Formation, quartz-mica schists, biotite schists, migmatitic gneisses, granitic gneisses, late and post-tectonic granitic rocks including pegmatites, which have been subjected to two phases of deformation. The first phase is mainly a fabric forming deformation that also led to the development of moderately plunging mineral lineation. No minor fold of this phase was recognized. The second deformation phase gave rise to the development of Iwaraja (ductile) shear zone. Mylonitic foliation is sub-vertical and steeply dipping and while the mineral lineation is sub-horizontal and shallowly plunging. Within granitic gneiss mylonites, the shear zone is characterised by early and late open to tight folds of pegmatite dykes. Adjacent the shear zone, ptygmatic folds of quartzo-feldspathic veins in gneisses and crenulated cleavages that overprinted earlier schistosity surfaces in the quartz-mica schist also characterised this deformation phase. Extensional fractures in the various lithologies generally show bimodal orientations mainly in the WNW-ESE and NW-SE directions, which are nearly perpendicular to the regional metamorphic foliations. These deformation conditions depict structural features that are associated with internal zones of orogenic belts. Within the study area, the structures document late-Precambrian deformation during the closing stages of Pan-African orogenesis.

Abstract: This particular study deals with the impact of pre-sowing nanotube-based seed treatment technology on rapeseed (Brassica napus) growth and yield. During the field tests we identified a significant yield increase as a result of applying the pre-sowing nanotube-based seed treatment technology. The main treatment agents were physiologically active nanochips consisting of carrier matrix nanotubes with eliciting activity ("Taunit", "Taunit-M", "Taunit-MD", and graphene). Enriching nanochips with insecticide-fungicide Kruyzer for guaranteed seed protection from crucifer flea allowed to raise the yield up to 8.08 t / ha - 12.28 t / ha.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide (CO₂), Methane (CH₄) are two most potent greenhouse gases and are major source of climate change. Human activities particularly fossil fuels burning have caused considerable increase in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. CO₂ contributes 60% of anthropogenic greenhouse effect whereas CH₄ contributes 15%. Ice core records also show that the concentrations of Carbon dioxide and methane have increased substantially. The emission of these gases alters the Earth’s energy budget and are drivers of climate change. In the present study, atmospheric concentration of CO₂ and CH₄ over Pakistan is measured using Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). Time series and time averaged maps are prepared to measure the concentrations of CO₂ and CH₄. The results show considerable increase in concentration of Carbon dioxide and methane. The substantial increase in these concentrations can affect human health, earth radiative balance and can damage crops.

Abstract: In this study, the correlation coefficients among agro-morphological variation, genetic diversity, and drought tolerance in 44 rice cultivars were analyzed. The drought tolerance at seeding stage (DTS) was significantly proportional to drought tolerance at vegetative stage (DTV) (r = 0.60). In addition, DTS and DTV had strong significant positive correlation to leaf roll (r = 0.87 and 0.54, respectively). Means of unfilled grains and tilling per panicle were proportionally correlated to DTS (r = 0.22 and 0.25, respectively), and DTV (r = 0.20 and 0.36, respectively). However, weight of 1000 grains and filled grains recorded no correlation to DTS and DTV. At a homologous coefficient of 16.85 integrated from cluster analysis of agro-morphological, quantitative characteristics and drought tolerant scores, the rice was divided into five groups. Maximum PIC (polymorphic information content) values were detected in three markers including RM11125, RM21, and RM5629, which were between 0.78-0.79. Cluster analysis of microsatellite markers revealed that by a genetic distance of 0.63, the rice varieties were separated into three clusters. The results provide valuable information for rice breeders to select donors in breeding rice integrated with drought tolerance and good agronomic characteristics.

Abstract: Effects of application of poultry manure, organo-mineral fertilizer, NPK soil or foliar applied at varying rates on cacao seedlings were studied in the nursery between January-May 2011 and December to April, 2012. Poultry manure at 40, 50 and 60g/plant significantly influenced cacao seedlings height and number of leaves over other treatments. The effect of organo-mineral fertilizer application at 50 and 60g per plant on the number of leaves was also significantly better than NPK soil or foliar applied, starting from 12 weeks after treatment application. The stem girth development under poultry manure at 50 and 60g per plant application had the best performance followed by poultry manure at 40g per plant. There were no significant differences in almost all the treatments at 5 weeks after sowing on seedlings stem girth. NPK has the longest tap root length while poultry manure had the largest average number of lateral roots followed by organo-mineral. The results thereby indicated that the use of poultry manure at 40 to 50g per plant and organo-mineral fertilizer as sources of nutrients had significant effects on cacao seedling quality.

Abstract: Lipid was extracted from the lipid containing muscle of Liner silver grunter (Pomadasys hasta) by solvent extraction and then purified by standard method. The physico-chemical properties of lipid sample were determined and compared with those of other standard fats and oils. Fatty acid composition of the lipid sample was investigated by Thin Layer Chromatographic (TLC) examination. Gas Liquid Chromatographic (GLC) examination was performed by the methyl esters mixture prepared from the lipid sample. The de-oiled muscle of the fish was studied for the determination of ash content, fiber content, moisture content and protein content. The lipid containing selected muscle was analyzed quantitatively for the determination of percentages of protein, cholesterol and minerals (N, P, K, Ca, and Na). The lipid containing muscle was also analyzed for the determination of the amount of eleven metals by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric method. The lipid sample was evaluated by microbial activity (bacterial activity against nine bacteria and fungal activity against seven fungi).

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to determine the dominant frequency of plant species, and provide useful information toward the conservation management of animal feed in grazing areas, Hiroshima, Japan. The numbers of plant species were 32 and 21 in spring and summer, respectively. The appearance frequency of plant species more than 50% in the spring, consist of Veronica arvensis (75.57%), Trifolium repens (73.86%), Paspalum dilatatum (69.32%), Lamium purpureum (68.75%), Trifolium dubium (65.34%), Cerastium glomeratum (63.64%), whereas in summer, it consists of Paspalum notatum (98.30%), Trifolium repens (81.25%), Paspalum dilatatum (78.98%), and Kyllinga brevifolia (74.43%). It was observed that the frequencies of plant species were 16.64 and 21.55 cm; vegetation cover rates were 77.18 and 81.36%; chlorophyll content were 41.72 and 36.28 mg/g Fw, and species numbers were 17.91 and 10.18, in spring and summer, respectively. Findings of this research propose that Trifolium repens (clover), Rumex japonicus (weed), and Paspalum dilatatum (grass) are dominant species in the studied areas that can be utilized as animal feeds.

Abstract: The antifungal activity of the ethanolic and aqueous fruit extracts of Zingiber officinale, Tetrapleura tetraptera, Garcinia kola and Cola nitida on the green rot fungus (Penicillium sp.) isolated from infected groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) seeds in storage were investigated in vitro. Various concentrations of the aqueous and ethanolic fruit extract ranging from 5g/100ml, 10g/100ml, and 15g/100ml were separately added to Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media. The fungus was inoculated into the media and incubated for seven days. Results of the in vitro studies showed that the ethanolic extracts had a significant inhibitory effect (p<0.05) on the radial growth of Penicillium sp. at all levels of concentration tested. Complete inhibition of the fungus was at 15g/100ml of ethanolic extracts of Garcinia kola and Tetrapleura tetraptera. The aqueous extracts showed less inhibitory effect as compared to the ethanolic extracts. The effective inhibition of ethanolic extracts as compared to the aqueous extracts may be attributed to the efficiency of the extraction solvent on the phytochemical content of the plant extracts. The application of botanical extracts for disease management could be less expensive, easily available, non-polluting and eco-friendly. The ethanolic fruit extracts of Garcinia kola and Tetrapleura tetraptera at the higher concentrations can be produced in large quantities and used as spray in controlling the green rot fungus of Arachis hypogaea in storage.